Device for cold pressure welding wies and the like



Feb. 16, 1954 a SQWTER 2,669,138

DEVICE FOR COLD PRESSURE WELDING WIRES AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 15, 1952T qa &

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I 4/ INVENTOR. 20 43 #A/r/m/v VBAGNOAD J'a W751? ATTORN EY Patented Feb.16, 1954 2;ss9,13s-- DEVICE FORUULIJ PRE s'SUREWnIlnING WIRES DAnthonysBagnoldiSowter, lckenham'g'ingland (llaiins'fpri'ority';application fireat Br'itahi April 25,

The 'present invent-ionrelatestitoipressurewelde ins"; ssuchoasscold'pressure weldingpmore par tioularly toli-thesplicing:orwweldingctogether by pressure a'epairsof rodsnwires'g orvthelike;iespe-'=" cia'llyuelectrical"conductors of aluminumgccoppers;oriiothel iductile" and pressure \we'ldabl metal or 1 metal alloy-.2 a

In my (ac-pending-patent'applioatiom Serial-No; 274098-,--filed-"February 29, 1952, entitled f-Means For'wand 'l-Method' of v'Mak-ing-Cold welded Wire- J oints i there-(is described 'a methods ofpressure welding together a a pair 1 of :electricalY-conductors of cold-pressurerweldablel metal; according to which;the-iconductors -or wiresare: superposed or laideone -=on the iother orsideby side in. line, andl aepairt of aligned-- opposing welding -tools=, each 1 having 4acircular I pressure applying surf ace,- are: brought together tosqueezeand. weld theconductors between them by a; solid-phase cold weldjoint Y Infthe said application; each of the two welding-tools consistsof a pin havingasuitable pressure applyin v .or v.weldingvs surface and:arranged to be .operated o'r driven. toward the other tool by} asuitable. pressure applyinglmeansw Anobject of. the present invention.is the'pro-nt vision of alsimple andleflicint weldingideviceof Itheabove type forjoining together, bv'cold pres, sure'weldin'g'; a pairbfwires -rods,Lor thellike consisting ;of cold pressure weldaibleinetal.

Ancillary objects of the invention. are the pro visionof "ahand=operated fpressure weldingjtool 1 of"the**above type for joinlng'ielectrical -fivir es or conductorsbypold weldingwhich islbothi'simple indes'ign {and easy to operate;:whichwi1lnot rel quire'skilled'flabor forits use andnperation: and

whiolr"'wi1l"be "of flight weight' and suitable for usein' the field;especially for splicing "orii oining telephone *and otherelectrical-wires orconduc tors in connection with the manufacture,iIlstal"-"'-- weanor-repair of electrical equipment of any typei With''th "foregoingand further objects in View? as will appear hereafter,ahand welding or-wire* joining-tool according *to the "invention"comprises-'* substantially a supportingblock having a-groovd orslot-'arrangedto r'ec'eive a pair of wires o'rth like-to be joined insuperposed orside-by-sid -re-""-' lations'hip; saidgro'ove or slot; "orthe -means =associated therewith, being arranged-to humane wires or the'like' closel'y' together. For this-purposeptheitool-ifurthercomprisesreleasablemeans; fo'r metezining'sorxpressing the'wiresiagainstlthe bottom: ofithelsloti and 'a pair of oppositelv'movmatweldingrpinsulocatedand slidablesinrsuitable or the-.kbldekrsaiduh'ores lying indinepone': 55

on each side of-sai'd groo above-mentioned co-pending application;

Preferably, the: means for i retaining the wires or the like vin thegroove in' the supporting block comprises-a-banparallel-tozthe lengthofthe wires and arranged to engage said groove and to bearwith-springjpressure. against the sides' of the superposed wires-to bejoined or welded.-

The welding "devicemay v be fabricated in the form of a handtoolgthenecessarypressure-being applied-to the welding pins -'by way of-handoperated-wlevers; "in the manner described in greater detailhereafter;

The invention-will be betterunderstood by reference tothefollowin-g:description of a practical: hand tool--for cold weldinglorsplicing wires of I aluminum, copper,or other ductile and pressureweldable -metal, having-:adiameter of .060" or thereabouts,-= taken=inconjunction-with==the ac companying drawing; forming part'of this-specificationand wherein=zi Figured shows aside view-:of the took--Figure w '2ish-ows an endview of the tool viewed in the direction'ofthe-arrow-in Figure 1;

Figure-=3 :is a partial representation showing side and end views of thesupporting block tool;-

Figure 4 is another-partial view showing; side and end views of thretaining member-for thewelding pins; and i Figure-5 I shows asideview-ofaipressure apply+ mg pinz Like areferenee numerals identifylike part in the several views :of-the :drawingsm I Referring tothe-drawing; more-particularly to Figures 1: and-'- 2thereof;,::thecold: welding= handtool shown comprisesas .its' essential elements asupporting block lnvhav-ing a lateralgroove or joined-"are farranged to-be laid side 'by side in themannershown, 'a spring-pressed plate 14having a barlike member I 5 projecting-Latright angle therefromand'arrangedto bear onthe wir'es dis posed'in the groove l l to retainor :firmly press:

the 'wires' against the-bottom of the groove The toolifurthermoreeomprises a: pair of 'op+= positelwmoving i welding-apin 'alfi and .wslidingve and*the-said linebeing 'arrangedntowbe perpendicular to thewires or the like and in a plane containing-the axes there-- in bores ofthe block or member I and arranged to be forced together by a pair ofhandles or operating levers I8 and 2D, to thereby weld the wirestogether, in the manner described in detail in the above mentionedapplication. The pins I6 and I! are in turn carried or in engagementwith the outer ends of two sets of lever arms or links 2| and 22 whichare pivoted on the supporting block I!) and have their inner endspivotedly connected, as at I8 and 28', to the inner ends of the handlesI8 and respectively.

Referring to Figure 3, it will be seen that the supporting block I6 isgenerally of rectangular cross section and is provided with two ears 23and 24 projecting therefrom and which provide pivot points for the setsof levers or links 2| and 22. At the right-hand end of the block I0 inFigure 3, the block is provided with a guide slot 25 in which moves abolt or pivot 26, coupled with the inner ends of both handles I8 and 20,engagement of the bolt 26 with the curved end of the slot 25 limitingthe inward movement of the welding pins I6 and 11.

At the opposite end, the block I6 is provided as described above, withthe groove or slot I I to accommodate the wires I2 and I3, the depth ofthis slot being slightly greater than half the thickness of the block.Its length is sufficient to accommodate just about of the ends of thewires to be welded together and its width should be equal to thecombined diameter of the wires. Thus, if the wires are .064 diameter,then the width of the slot would be .128", the width being alteredsuitably for other gauges of wire.

The block I0 is furthermore provided with bores 21 and 28 serving asguides for the pins I6 and II, the common diameter of said bores beingsuch that the pins slide easily therein and the two bores 21 and 28 arein line with their common axis coinciding with the center plane of theblock II]. The depth of the groove or slot II is such as to bring thecenter plane of the wires into the center plane of block I0 when thewires are placed and retained in the bottom of the groove by theretaining bar I5.

As will be further seen from Figure 3, the block I0 is provided with arecess, in the form of a through-hole 30, in the example shown, at theline of axis of the bores 21 and 28, to accommodate the outward orlateral flow of the metal at welding. Further through holes or bores Illand 32 are provided in the block I6 for pins 33 and 34 associated withthe retaining member of plate I4.

More specifically, the pins 33 and 34 are attached to the back of themember I4 on the one hand, and to a release plate 35 on the other sideof the block III, coil springs 36 and 31 encircling the pins 33 and 34being provided between the block and the plate 35, to bias the member I4into engagement with the wires or groove I I, to firmly urge the wiresagainst the bottom of the groove. As a result, inward pressure on theplate 35 will cause the member I5 to move away from the wires and inorder to allow for flow of metal and welding, the member I5 isfurthermore provided with a hole or recess near the bores 21 and 28,corresponding to the hole 30 in the block Ill.

Referring also to Figures 4 and 5, the welding pins I6 and II as shownin Figure 5 are supported and held captive in the tool by U-shapedresilient mounting members or stirrups 38 and 40, one of which is shownin Figure 4. More specifically, the tapering head M of a welding 4 pinrests in a conical hole 42 of its associated stirrup 38 or 46, but canbe withdrawn completely by movement in a direction to the left in theview according to Figure 4. This will enable difierent welding pins tobe used or inserted for difierent sizes or gauges of wire, and as willbe seen in Figure 5, the welding pin has a circular tapering welding tip43 of a diameter suited to the diameter to be welded. Actually, thediameter of the welding surface of tip 43 is equal to the gauge ordiameter of the wires being welded, as described in my above-mentioned,co-pending application.

In order to apply pressure to the rear ends or heads of the welding pinsI6 and I7, the links or levers 2I and 22 each carry a pressure-applyingrod or cross pin 45 and 46, respectively, which engages or lies in theassociated stirrup 38 or 40 and bears against the conical shaped head Mof the associated welding pin I6 or II. As a result, when the handles oroperating arms I8 and 20 are pressed together, the cross pins 45 and 46bear on the heads of the pins, whereby to drive the pins inwardly and,when the bolt 26 reaches the bottom of the slot 25 in the block II], thesurface of the welding tips 43' of the pins will be in the properspacing position or Welding distance from one another as described in myco-pending application. Upon release of the handles I6 and I9, thehandles will open under the action of spring 41, the stirrups 38 and 40restricting the welding pins from engagement with the wires in grooveII. The spring 41, in the example shown, is in the form of a circularlybent leaf spring having its opposite ends attached to the pivots l6 and20' to normally urge the handles I6 and 26 into an outward or spreadposition, as shown in the drawing.

In operating the tool described above, the release plate 35 is depressedagainst the action of the springs 36 and 31, to move the retainingmember or bar I5 out of the groove II. I The two wires I2 and I3 arethen placed side by side in the groove and the retaining member allowedto return under the force of the springs, to retain or firmly urge thewires against the bottom of the groove. Subsequently, the handles I8 and26 are forced together to drive the welding pins I6 and I! through thebores 21 and'28 in the block I0, and into the superposed wires, tothereby weld the wires together by a solid phase cold weld bond. Afterwelding, the retaining member I5 is again moved outwardly by depressingthe release plate 35, this being preferably done with a slightrotational movement, to free the metal which has flown outwardly fromthe holes or recess in the block I0 and the retaining mem- 7 her l5.

In order to replace the set of welding tips or pins for another, allthat is necessary is to free the parallel links or levers 2I and 22 fromthe handles I8 and 26, and to rotate the links in such a direction thatthe cross pins 45 and 46 move out of their associated stirrups 28 and-I0respectively. Once the rods are clear of the stirrups, the lattercomplete with the welding pins, can be removed for replacement or exchange of the pins.

In the foregoing description, the welding surface of the welding pinsare described as of circular shape, but it will be understoodthat it isnot essential or necessary that the pins should be so formed.Alternatively, they may be oval, rectangular, or any other suitable formor con- 1 figuration; but; should .preferablybe: flat, valthoughtheedges maybe slightly radiused.

It will be further understood that the wires I2 and-l3 may be suitablycleaned prior to welding,--such-as by scratch brushing ofthe surfacesor'portions tobejoinedor by} the useof any other-suitable cleaningmethod to remove the oxide'coating" or any other surface contaminantsor*matter foreign to the metal. It has been found, however, that in certain'cases, cleaning can be dispensed with, in which cases, the weldingpressure and lateral flow of the metal are sufiicient to break up theoxide film, to allow of merging or welding of the adjoining metals intoan efiicient solid phase welding bond, in the manner described in mycopending application above mentioned.

In the foregoing the invention has been described with reference to aspecific illustrative device. It will be evident however, that numerousvariations and modifications, as well as the substitution of equivalentparts or elements for those shown and described, may be made inaccordance with the broader scope and spirit of the invention as definedby the appended claims. The specification and drawings are accordinglyto be regarded in an illustrative rather than in a restrictive sense.

I claim:

1. A device for cold pressure welding wires and the like comprising asupporting block provided with a slot to accommodate a pair of wires tobe joined arranged side by side and in close fitting engagement withsaid slot, releasable retaining means to firmly hold said wires againstthe bottom of said slot, a pair of oppositely moving pressure weldingpins mounted in aligned bores of said block one on each side of saidslot, the center line of said bores being perpendicular to said wiresand coinciding with a plane containing the axes thereof, and means forapplying welding pressure to drive said pins together to a predetermineddistance.

2. A device for cold pressure welding wires and the like comprising a.supporting block provided with a slot to accommodate a pair of wires tobe joined arranged side by side in superposed and closely fittingengagement with said slot, a retaining bar engaging said slot,releasable resilient means to urge said bar against said wires, a pairof oppositely moving pressure welding pins slidable in aligned bores ofsaid block one on each side of said slot, the center line of said holesbeing perpendicular to said wires and coinciding with a plane containingthe axes thereof, and means for applying welding pressure to drive saidpins together to a predetermined spacing distance.

3. A device for cold pressure welding wires and the like comprising asupporting block provided with a slot to accommodate a pair of wires tobe joined arranged in superposed and closely fitting engagement withsaid slot, at spring-loaded releasable retainer having an extension barengaging said slot to firmly urge said wires against the bottom of saidslot, a pair of oppositely moving pressure welding pins slidable inaligned bores of said block one on each side of said block, the centerline of said bores being perpendicular to said wires and coinciding witha plane containing the axes thereof, and means for applying weldingpressure tosaid pins, to drive said pins together to a predeterminedspacing distance.

4. A device for cold pressure welding wires and the like comprising asupporting block providedzwitha slot. to accommodateapairof winess;torbe-joined arranged in superposed and closely; fitting; engagementwith said slot, a retainer plate. having a transverse bar engaging saidslotrand; a pair of guide pinsextending therefrom andpassingthroughbores in said block, a release. plate attached to the opposite ends ofsaid pins coilnspring means encircling said pins between-r. said releaseplate and block to normally urge said.v wires against-the bottom of saidslot by said ba-r,:; a pair.- of oppositely. moving pressure welding. vpins mounted in aligned bores {of said .block tone onueach: sideofsaidslot, the center line of said. bores being. perpendicular to' said.wires and co- .iriciding with a plane containing the axes there-v H of,and means cfortapplying weldingypressure to said pins to drive said pinstogether to a predetermined spacing distance.

5. A device for cold pressure welding wires and the like comprising asupporting block provided with a slot to accommodate a pair of wires tobe joined arranged in superposed and closely fitting engagement withsaid slot, releasable retaining means to firmly urge said wires againstthe bottom of said slot, a pair of oppositely moving pressure weldingpins slidable in aligned bores of said block one on each side of saidslot, the center line of said bores being perpendicular to said wiresand coinciding with a plane containing the axes thereof, a pair of linkspivotally mounted on opposite sides of said block, corresponding ends ofsaid links each bearing upon one of said welding pins, and pressureapplying means to simultaneously operate the opposite ends of said linksto a limit position, to thereby drive said pins together and into thesuperposed wires.

6. In the device as claimed in claim 5, including a U-shaped mountingmember for each of said welding pins, said pins having heads removablymounted in one side of the associated mounted member and a cross-pincarried by said links engaging the adjacent mounting member and bearingupon the head of the associated Welding pin.

7. A device for cold pressure Welding wires and the like comprising asupporting block provided with a slot to accommodate a pair of wires tobe joined arranged in superposed and closely fitting engagement withsaid slot, releasable retaining means to urge said'wires against thebottom of said slot, a pair of oppositely moving pressure welding pinsmounted in aligned bores of said block one on each side of said slot,the center line of said bores being perpendicular to said wires andcoinciding with the plane containing the axes of said wires, 2. pair oflinks pivotally mounted on opposite sides of said block, correspondingends of said links each bearing upon one of said welding pins, a pair ofoperating levers each pivotally connected to one of the remaining endsof said linksand being connected together by a common pivot movable in aslot of said block, and resilient means to normally urge said handlesapart.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7, comprising a U-shaped mounting memberfor each of said welding pins, said pins being provided with taperingheads removably mounted in one side of the associated mounting member,and cross-pins carried by said links and engaging the adjacent mountingmembers and bearing upon the head of the associated welding pins.

9. A device for cold pressure welding wires and the like comprising asupporting block provided with a slot to accommodate a pair of wires tobe joined arranged in superposed and closely fitting engagement withsaid slot, releasable retaining means to urge said wires against thebottom of said slot, a pair of oppositely moving pressure welding pinssliding in aligned bores of said block one on each side of said slot,the center line of said bores being perpendicular to said wires andcoinciding with a plane containing the axes thereof, and means forapplying pressure to said pins to force said pins together and into thesuperposed wires, to thereby weld said wires by a solid phase weldingbond, said retaining means and slot being provided with recessesadjacent to said bores to allow of lateral flow of the metal at welding.

ANTHONY BAGNOLD SOWTER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number5 415,836 804,045 1,153,391 2,086,400 2,359,083 10 2,462,535

Name Date Francis Nov. 26, 1889 Rietzel Nov. '7, 1905 Hughes Sept. 14,1915 Brenizer July 6, 1937 Carlson Sept. 26, 1944 Muter Feb. 22, 1949Lam

